Efforts are on to make Odisha beggar free and 2,886 of them have been provided livelihood support under the 'Sahaya' scheme of the state government, Social Security and Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities Minister Ashok Chandra Panda told the Assembly Saturday.
The state has another 6,390 beggars and Cuttack district topped the list with 1,060 of them. It is followed by 708 in Bolangir, 485 in Mayurbhanj and 458 in Ganjam. Deogarh district stood at the bottom of the list with only 16 beggars, Panda said replying to a question by BJD member Prashant Behera.
The livelihood support is given under Sahaya scheme, which was launched in 2018. Under it beggars are rehabilitated by providing self-employment, he said.
The 2011 Census report had put the number of beggars in Odisha at 6550 beggars (3850 male and 2700 female), the second highest in the country after West Bengal's 13,728.
Disclaimer: No Business Standard Journalist was involved in creation of this content
